Catalog: Silver: Sterling

Relatively large for an ice cream place spoon, this piece measures 6 1/8" long and weighs a substantial near 1.4 T. oz.

Made by Gorham, the pattern is Cluny which bespeaks the French origins of its renowned designer, Antoine Heller.

The pattern features dense, high relief, floral elements with rosette and palmetto accents, and has proven to be enduringly appealing.

The handle backside of this is engraved in script, "A.P.W." over "Oct...

Marked "Sterling," "925/1000 in a shield," and "Duhme Co.," this 6 1/8" long, approximately 1.0 T. oz. spoon has Cincinnati origins and associations.

It has a Tipt handle with straight sides and rounded shoulders off the bowl. This departs from the pronounced Fiddle shape with angular shoulders typical of 19th century Ohio River Valley silver design...

Among Gorham's oldest full line patterns, New Tipt was introduced in 1871. This 5 5/8" long, .6 T. oz., sugar spoon is an early example, monogrammed on the handle front "C.E.F." in script and with the date "1872" on the reverse.

More detailed than a standard Tipt design, this version incorporates Greek and/or Egyptian Revival features set on a broad end, tubular shank, handle. These features carry onto the backside heel of the plum shaped with central vee, gold washed, bowl...

Marked with Gorham's "lion, anchor, G" emblem, along with "Sterling" and "Pat 1885," this youth fork measures 5 7/8" long and weighs .9 T. oz.

The pattern is St. Cloud, which was one of the outstandingly successful designs produced by Antoine Heller in his long and consequential career with Gorham.

It is in very good condition. The dense leaf and shell motif remains well-defined, showing minimal polishing wear...

The long dominant 19th and 20th century Cincinnati silver and jewelry house, Duhme produced a number of flatware lines of its own design.

In addition, several patterns that are essentially identical to, or strikingly reminiscent of, other makers also appear with Duhme's name on them, and that is the case of this 7 7/8" long, weighty at just over 2.3 T. oz., serving fork that markedly resembles Durgin's 1891 Louis XV ...

This 7 3/8" long, solid silver, master butter knife weighs a substantial 1.6 T. oz.

Dating circa 1870, it is marked "Bigelow. Bros & Kennard.," for the prominent Boston jeweler, and "925" in an oval.

It has a rounded, upturned end, Antique handle that is engraved on the upper surface in a circular diamond pattern with leafy detail above and below this. The interior reserve area is inscribed with an Old English "M" monogram...

One of William B. Durgin's earliest designs, the pattern on this pair of matching 6" long, relatively heavy at 1.9 T. oz. combined, teaspoons goes by the name Bridal, although it is also referred to as Bow, (Crossed) Ribbon or Knot, taken from the bow and knotted ribbon that appear on the handle front and back sides...

A virtually unused example of Wood & Hughes' Renaissance Revival Angelo pattern, this preserve spoon measures 6 15/16" long and weighs just over 1.0 T. oz.

The intricate detail of the design on the handle is complimented in this instance with a bowl engraved with particularly fine, decorative, palmetto leaves, all set against a soft, satin finish on the interior.

The backside of the handle is engraved "Irene." in script...

In his benchmark work, Tiffany Silver Flatware, William Hood illustrates three pieces in a rarely-found motif that he describes as having "block-form hollow handles" with "ornamentation" (chapter eight, "Not-full-line Patterns").

This 6 1/8" long, nearly 1.3 T...

Shiebler's late 19th century Flora series was largely offered in teaspoons, but also less commonly issued in other forms, such as this pair of 4 5/8" long, .9 T. oz., sugar tongs.

The pattern is Forget-Me-Not, which is set in high relief and clear detail on each arm.

The arch is crimped for strength, while the grips are highly articulated, hairy talon style.

In superb condition and never monogrammed, these are without wear or damage and show a bright, even, finish.

Mark...

An early example of Gorham's pattern inspired by imagery from the palace for which it is named, this 7 1/4" long, 1.6 T. oz., jelly spoon in Versailles is marked with the company's "lion, anchor, G" emblem, "Sterling," and "Copyrighted" on the backside heel of the bowl.

The main figure of the design is a classically presented female figure holding a cluster of grapes in one upraised arm and cradling a bowl of fruit in the other arm.

She is surrounding by an array of complex, Baroque...

Measuring 7 1/2" long and weighing approximately 1.3 T. oz., this item is a preserve or jelly spoon.

The pattern is Whiting's Arabesque, which is rooted in Moorish design and was produced during the Renaissance Revival period of the 1870s. The primary feature is a standing griffin with widespread wings surrounded by traditional arabesque detailing.

There is a disk-shaped reserve area on the handle front, which in this instance has never been monogrammed.

The bowl is plum shaped, ...

Princess was a pattern introduced by John Polhamus and continued in production by George Shiebler, both of whom were prominent 19th Century New York City makers.

This 11" long, heavy at 4.5 T. oz., ladle, (likely an oyster which was one step down in size from a full soup), is an early piece marked "J.P. Pat. 74" and "Sterling."

The design is Moorish in style, with a suggestion of Greek or Egyptian Revival influence.

The handle front features a leaf and berry repeating border surr...

Dating from 1872, Gorham's Corinthian embodies the Classical Revival and Moorish sensibilities of its period. The handle incorporates a raised anthemion leaf surmounted by leafy tracery.

This example is a 6", approximately 1.1 T. oz., solid silver, cream ladle.

The 1 1/2" diameter, 7/8" deep, flat bottomed, tapered wall bowl is "bucket" form, which was a style popular in the mid 19th century. The interior is finished in a bright gold wash.

The reserve area on the handle front is ...

Issued in 1870, King's aka King was one of Tiffany's earliest flatware patterns. It is generally identified as Saratoga, which was the name assigned it when it was introduced in 1956.

It was also rebadged Cook and reactivated (having been discontinued in 1904) for a short while c. 1908.

William Hood in Tiffany Silver Flatware surmises, "the name change was to honor Charles T. Cook, who became president of Tiffany & Co. after Charles L Tiffany died in 1902...

Delicate and slender, this lettuce fork measures a lengthy 9 1/8" and weighs .9 T. oz.

An early example of Whiting's Imperial Queen, it is stamped with the company's "lion and W" logo, "Sterling," "Pat. 1893," and with an Old English "O."

Never monogrammed, it is in excellent condition.

The shell and leaf elements that constitute the design are free of polishing wear, remaining crisp and well-defined. The wispy tines are well-formed and without bends, nicks, or burrs. The fi...

This 1.9 T. oz., 6 1/2" long, solid silver gravy ladle is generously proportioned.

It is marked "Sterling" and "H & S" for Hotchkiss & Schreuder, Syracuse, New York, which firm operated operated under this name c. 1857-71, preceded by Bunnelle & Schreuder and succeeded by A.B. Schreuder.

The "H & S" mark continued in use even after the dissolution of the partnership between the two principals in 1871 ((Rainwater Encyclopedia of American Silver Manufacturers, citing Soeffing).

The ...

This 7" long, weighty at 2.0 T. oz., piece is original example of Gorham's lavish Versailles pattern flatware, marked on the backside with the company's "lion, anchor, G" emblem, "Sterling," and "Copyrighted."

The multi-motif, rococo, design on the handle is figural and inspired by imagery found at the French palace for which the line is named.

The primary portraiture in this instance is a seated female, perhaps Ceres given that her lapped is draped in a sheaf of wheat.

The reser...